the Surrey Leader - February 22, 2008

Environment Canada is
calling for more studies about predicted air quality
impacts of the Gateway project, which includes the
planned twinning of the Port Mann Bridge (above).

Federal agencies are warning the Gateway program’s
planned Highway 1 expansion project will come at a
cost to air quality in the region.

The
$1.7-billion freeway widening and twinning of the
Port Mann Bridge is nearing the end of an
environmental assessment that has seen a wide range
of agency and public responses.

Environment Canada, in its submission, warns the
project will “contribute to some deterioration of
air quality” and an increase in greenhouse gas
emissions.

The federal department is calling for more study
as part of its recommendations.

In particular, it says the province is
underestimating the increase in traffic flows that
will result from expanding the freeway.

New highway capacity generally increases the
number of vehicles on the road, federal officials
say, but argue Gateway’s projections don’t
adequately take into account the project’s effect of
fuelling sprawl and car use.

Federal officials expect general gains in air
quality nation-wide due to reduced vehicle emissions
through a combination of cleaner fuels and better
efficiency.

But they caution that the project would “reverse
a portion of the improvements” that should happen in
the Lower Mainland. They call for a search for
options to “avoid such backsliding.”

Environment Canada also questions whether the
province underestimates the risk of cancers and
other health impacts on people within one kilometre
of the highway.

The feds also say they don’t see enough proof of
Victoria’s claims the Highway 1 project will ease
traffic congestion on other parallel routes and the
resulting air pollution there.

Gateway environmental program manager Robin
Taylor has tabled a response, rejecting several of
the Environment Canada claims.

The province argues air emissions from traffic
along Highway 1 will decrease through improving
standards between now and 2021.

He also notes plans to toll the Port Mann Bridge
and extend HOV lanes to Langley will also help cut
emissions.

On other fronts, Taylor said, the province is
adjusting its submission or considering further
improvements, such as a requirement that heavy
equipment not idle unnecessarily during
construction.

Taylor calls another Environment Canada
suggestion to create a Low Emission Zone for the
region “an interesting idea” but beyond the mandate
of the environmental assessment.

Anti-Gateway groups have pounced on the federal
submissions, arguing the freeway expansion runs
counter to the province’s new “LiveSmart”
commitments to rein in sprawl through denser urban
housing.

“Expanding freeways well before fixing our
transit system gives the public and the development
industry a strong signal that car travel and
car-oriented development is king,” said Livable
Region Coalition coordinator David Fields.

Critics consider the environmental assessment a
sham process that will see the project approved no
matter what problems are uncovered.

Construction is slated to start later this year
and be complete by 2013.